US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday delivered a dire warning to the Asia-Pacific region and the world: China’s designs on Taiwan pose a threat to global peace and stability that requires “our allies and partners do their part on defense.

During his address in Singapore, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned that China may be preparing to use military force in the Asia-Pacific region. He called on Indo-Pacific allies to increase defense spending,

The assessment is a major departure for the U.S. government, and it came with a nudge that nations must choose between Washington and Beijing.